GABRIEL SCIENTIFIC won the overall prize last night at The Irish TimesInterTradeIreland Innovation awards. The Dublin-based firm invented a pillow aimed at reducing the risk of patients contracting hospital-acquired infections (HAI), such as MRSA, from lying on contaminated bedding. They accepted the award from President Michael D Higgins, honorary guest at the event. Earlier in the night, the company also won the product innovation award.
Liam Nellis, chief executive of InterTradeIreland, said that in these times it was easy to forget that economic success was still built on the ability to design, develop and deliver new product processes and services that people want to buy. “This island has a fantastic track record giving the world the steam turbine, the submarine, the tractor, cream liqueurs and humble bacon rashers. The people we honour tonight are continuing this great tradition, and it’s through them and people like them that this island will emerge from its current economic difficulties.”
Nellis also presented a special award for North/South collaboration to X-Bolt Orthopaedics, who partnered with Queen’s University Belfast to develop their expanding bolt device for hip fracture repairs.
Liam Kavanagh, managing director of The Irish Times, said: "It's heart-warming to see so many firms defying the recession and showing that the spark of invention and innovation is still shining bright on this island."
During the event, Matt Cooper led a debate on the state of innovation in Ireland with entrepreneurs Chris Horn, Norman Crowley and inTune Network co-founder Tom Farrell. InTune Networks were last year’s winner of the overall award.
The final judging panel comprised Barry Maloney of Balderton Capital; Louise Phelan, vice-president of Paypal; Liam Nagle, group chief executive of Sisk; Chris Horn, founder of Iona Technologies; Ivan Coulter, founder of Sigmoid Pharma; Liam Nellis, chief executive of InterTradeIreland; and Peter Callan, finance director of The Irish Times.
Other winners at last night’s ceremony at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, were:
APPLICATION OF R&D
X-Bolt Orthopaedics for its expanding bolt device for hip fracture repairs
SERVICE INNOVATION
Tweak.comfor its online design service
ORGANISATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS
Amatech for its process of inserting electronic inlays for passports and ID cards
GREEN-TECH
Waste Systems for its waste separation system
PUBLIC SERVICE INNOVATION
Mayo Co Council for its Greenway project
